photo from Oh Happy Day
Using the Ferney’s instruction’s as a rough guide, and Michelle Armas as inspiration, I’m making a piece of abstract art for our bedroom. I wanted something colorful for not a lot of money, and managed to score a high-quality, previously sketched-on but never painted, stretched canvas, sized 4′ x 2′, for $10 (new, it would retail for about $60 or $70). Craigslist rocks.
I haven’t painted anything in ten years or so. My grandmother and I were admiring some painters on the Seine River while we were in Paris, and she asked if I ever painted any more. I said I didn’t, and she said I ought to – I’d always loved to. So I’m doing it.
It’s been just as long since I’ve bought paint, too, and I was shocked at how expensive quality acrylics are. I decided I couldn’t afford as many tubes as I wanted, so I just bought five: black, white, red, yellow and blue, which, in theory, means I bought every color in the world – and a whole lot of work for myself. Mixing to get colors exact is super challenging, and not something I’ve done since high school in art class, but that’s part of “my process” (said the budget artist).
The whole set up is in the back yard, and I started yesterday with steps one and two, and now I’m ready to go “get serious” about it, and I’m nervous. I’m trying to relax and let go (and let Art!) but I really don’t want to fuck up! Isn’t that awful?
I’ll let you know how it goes.
P.S. Ok, so I’m looking at what I did yesterday for the first time with fresh eyes, and it looks like someone menstruated on canvas. I am demoralized.
Recently we saw all three of Monet’s Water Lilies together. They also had section on how it was painted along with X-rays. The Water Lilies are so thick with paint from all the places where Monet painted over things he didn’t like. Eventually, he liked what he saw and stopped painting on the project. That’s the beauty of art. Relax and enjoy!
Cindy
24 Aug 11 at 3:38 pm
At least you’re starting! I hear ya, though…I genuinely enjoy painting but DEAR GOD what I paint is fucking ugly.
Amy --- Just A Titch
24 Aug 11 at 8:10 pm
[...] ★ [...]
Awesome Friends - August 2011 Edition | Rob Blatt
25 Aug 11 at 6:06 am
You freakin’ crack me up!
My 3-year-old daughter is high-functioning autistic. She’s recently started to find her emotional expression through painting. It’s so inspirational, I plan to pick up some “grown up paints” soon so we can paint together. (Cue the “Awww, how sweet!” Bluurp.)
Anyway, I’m totally nervous that I’m going to suck out loud.
Fortunately I’ve never let impending shame stop me before.
Check in on my blog if your artistic misery needs some company
alg
6 Sep 11 at 10:36 am
Don’t be discouraged, just keep trying. It can be so fulfilling and you know that you will end up with something that you will love for your home.
Occasionally I paint because I just can’t find anything to buy that matches what I want in my head.
Just keep experimenting, and you’ll find your grove
Sarah Cooley
7 Sep 11 at 11:49 am
[...] the time I starting a painting? Here it is, hanging over our bed. I might add to it eventually (the big orange splotch in the left [...]
In Which I Finish My Art at The Amber Show
31 Oct 11 at 12:04 pm